One Pair in Poker: Hand Ranking

Introduction

Are you aware that One Pair is the second lowest-ranking hand in poker rankings but still plays a crucial role in the Texas Hold’em strategy?

This article will help you understand the one-pair poker hand, its ranking, the best strategies for playing it, the common mistakes to avoid, and the poker probability of having a one-pair.

What is a One Pair Poker Hand?

One Pair Definition

One Pair combines two cards of the same rank, like A-A, J-J, or 4-4 and three other unpaired cards.

Ranking Position

Out of the 10 standard poker hands, this hand ranks 9th. This hand ranks just above the High Card, which is the lowest-ranking hand in poker hand rankings. 

Examples:

Strong One Pairs: A♣️A♦️, K♥️K♠️, Q♦️Q♥️, or J♣️J♦️

Weak One Pairs: 2♠️2♣️, 3♦️3♠️, 5♥️5♣️, or 7♦️7♥️

How does One Pair rank?

In poker, a one-pair refers to having two cards of the same rank and three other cards of different ranks. In poker hand rankings, one pair ranks just above a high card but below a two-pair.

The probability of forming One Pair in poker is comparatively higher than many other poker hands, as it ranks as one of the more common poker combinations in a five-card hand. Players can form a One Pair about 42% of the time they play the game. In contrast, higher-ranking hands like Two Pair, Three-of-a-Kind, Straight, Full House, etc., are much rare and have significantly lower probabilities, making One Pair a more frequent yet relatively weak hand in the poker hierarchy. It highlights its importance in gameplay strategy and betting decisions while holding One Pair.

Poker professionals always suggest playing strong starting hands, having the potential to form high-ranking hands like pocket pairs of Aces, Kings or Queens. If you hold a weaker pair of hands, your game strategy must be adjusted based on the table dynamics and opponents’ gameplay style.

Example:

Player A: Player A gets K♠️ K♦️ 9♥️ J♣️ 6♥️ 

Player B: Player B gets A♣️ A♥️ Q♣️ 7♠️ 4♦️  

So here, Player B, who holds two aces, will be declared the winner as the rank of their card is higher than the first one. On the other hand, if both players had Kings or any other same-ranked One pair, then the highest kicker (non-paired card) would determine the winner.

Best Strategies for Playing One Pair in Texas Hold’em

1. Protect your Pair: If you have a strong One Pair like Aces or Kings, bet aggressively. It can scare off your opponents with weaker hands and increase your chances of winning.
2. Pay attention to Position: Your position at the table matters. Play cautiously with your one pair in an early position and play aggressively in later positions.
3. Read your opponents: Observe their betting patterns keenly to figure out their hand strength. Pay attention to your opponents’ behaviour. It might indicate they have a weaker hand if they seem hesitant or passive. In such cases, you can bet confidently with your one pair.
4. Evaluate the Board: Pay attention to the community cards. If the board suggests the potential for stronger hands like a Straight or Flush draw, proceed cautiously and be prepared to fold. 

For example, if you hold Q♥️ Q♣️ and the flop appears to be K♥️ 8♠️ 5♦️, you should bet aggressively. If the board comprises 9♦️ 10♣️ J♣️, you should play cautiously as the opponents might have a straight.

5. Stay calm: Don't let emotions cloud your judgment. Even with just one Pair, stay calm and make rational decisions based on the situation.

What beats One Pair in poker?

The table below depicts the list of hands which can beat One Pair:

What are the probabilities of One Pair?

One Pair Probability in Texas Hold’em Poker

The probabilities of getting One Pair in a Texas Hold’em poker game vary depending on the stage of the game. Here are the probabilities at different stages:

• Pre-flop: 42.26% probability if five random cards are drawn from the 52-card deck.
• Flop: 28.6% chance of improving your hand to one pair from the community cards.
• Turn: 12.77% chance of forming one pair after revealing the first three community cards.

One Pair Probability in Omaha Poker

How Should You Play One Pair in Texas Hold’em?

One pair is a common hand to play, as the probability of being dealt with this hand is 1 out of every 1.37 times. Playing one pair in Texas Hold’em depends on various factors, including the strength of the one-pair (premium pocket pair, middle pair or low pair), the number of players on the table, the type of community cards, your position at the table, and the number of chips a player has.

When you have premium hands like Pocket Aces, Pocket Kings, or Pocket Queens, it is strategic to bet aggressively during the pre-flop to exploit their equity. Post-flop gameplay of premium pocket pairs must be played considering the board's texture. Play cautiously if you see a set, flush, or straight forming on the board.

With medium-strength cards from 7-7 to 10-10 pairs, you must be careful about the community cards while going aggressive beyond a specific limit, as another person can have a stronger hand than you.

With lower pairs from 2-2 to 6-6, you can convert them easily to a set or Three-of-a-Kind, provided you play until post-flop unless it becomes too expensive to keep playing.

But it’s crucial to remember that one pair is the second-weakest hand in the poker hands sequence. Hence, you need to play with these hands carefully.

In summary, one pair can be best played in the following ways:

• High One Pairs (Aces, Kings, Queens): Raise aggressively pre-flop.
• Medium Pairs (7s-10s): Play carefully; fold if high cards appear.
• Low Pairs (2s - 6s): Try to form a Three-of-a-Kind fold if the flop is unfavourable.

What happens when two players have a Pair?

Imagine you and your friend are playing a game of poker. Both of you show your cards, and you have a Pair, which means you each have two cards of the same number, like two Kings or two 7s.

Sometimes, both players have the same pair, like you have two 5s. So, who wins then? This is where the kicker comes into play.

The kicker is a deciding card. If both players have the same pair, the one with the highest kicker card wins. For example, if you both have two 7s, but your kicker card is a Queen, and your friend's kicker is a 10, you win because a Queen is higher than a 10.

So, even if you and your friend have the same pair, the one with the better kicker card wins.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Playing One Pair

• Overconfidence with a low pocket pair: You should not get overconfident when playing with a low pair, as there are higher chances of getting hit by a higher card. You must play cautiously when you have a low-pocket pair like 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, or 7-7. Pocket pairs below seven often face challenges, struggle against overcards and are more vulnerable post-flop. They should be played cautiously depending on your position at the table and board texture. 

• Not betting aggressively with Pocket Aces/Kings/Queens: One common mistake new players make with high-value pairs like Pocket Aces, Pocket Kings and Pocket Queens is betting passively during pre-flop and not taking full advantage of these hands.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Pair a Strong Hand in Poker?

One pair holds the ninth rank in Poker hand rankings. Hence, it can only beat the High Card, which ranks below it.

What beats one Pair?

In poker, a Pair is beaten by higher hands like Two Pairs, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.

Which One Pair is strongest?

The strongest One Pair in poker is a pair of Aces.

Conclusion

Getting better at One Pair is just the start of your poker game journey! Keep learning, keep improving, and who knows? You might just win the next big game!

Practice playing One Pair on the Adda52 poker app. Staying calm and sticking to one strategy while making smart decisions is vital to keep learning and improving your game!